Police probe syrup heist

KEDJWICK, New Brunswick — Police in Canada have seized more than 600 barrels of maple syrup in New Brunswick as part of an investigation into the theft of millions of dollars’ worth of syrup in Quebec.

The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers reported large quantities of syrup missing last month during a routine inventory, finding empty barrels at a site of the province’s global strategic reserve at St-Louis-de-Blandford.

Quebec provincial police Sgt. Christine Coulombe said last week that police  executed a search warrant in Kedjwick, New Brunswick, but could not provide more information as the investigation was ongoing. However, the owner of Kedjwick-based exporter S.K. Export Inc. said police visited last week and told him it was related to the missing syrup. Etienne St-Pierre said his usual suppliers, small producers based in Quebec, sold it to him.

This has left the New Brunswick exporter in a sticky situation. He’s been locked out of his office, which he said is under Royal Canadian Mounted Police watch. “They came in and said we’re taking everything, there wasn’t much I could do,” said Etienne St-Pierre, who said he initially thought the officers were joking.

The shipment of the pancake-topper made its way back to Quebec in a heavily guarded convoy of 16 trailer-loads last week. Quebec produces 80 percent of the world’s maple syrup.